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Hi, I'm new to the forum. I was born at 19 Browns Lane, Allesley in 1949 and attended Allesley Primary school from 1954 until 1957 when Dad's employer, Renold Chains Coventry, transferred him to their Cardiff factory. I still live near Cardiff and, now retired, I'm trying to put together early childhood memories. I seem to remember a few classmates' names: Janet Southall, Gaynor Partridge, Malcolm Swain, twins Linda and Leslie Collins, Johnny Thompson, Max ...?, and teachers' names: Mr Startin, Mrs Docker, Miss Henderson, Miss Dawson, Mrs Lomas.
The walk to school was up Windmill Hill, then left through what we called the "Muddy Passage" and is now, I think, Cameron Close, then along Barnfield Avenue.
I remember the Manning's garage/ grocery store just down the road at the corner of Washbrook Lane (they had a grumpy dog called Floss), and neighbours Ward, May, Fawkes, Ford (who moved to Lion House on Allesley main street around 1955) and another Ward family a few doors up towards the Jag factory whose son Peter apparently became chief of Rolls Royce Cars in the 1980s.
The local vicar was Moir (Muir?). The sound of church bells on a Sunday was impressive, clearly audible in Browns Lane.
I'd be very grateful for any additional memories/corrections, particularly of the Primary school and of Browns Lane.
Ed Keeling

I know this is an old thread, but I'm new here lol.
Windmill farm was owned by George Taylor, sorry but I cannot remember his wifes name, but their daughter was called Jillian.
I spent many hours playing on the farm and as I got bigger/older I helped out.
The reason I played there was, I lived next door!

Hello clayman49 - lovely to think there is a memory of Allesley in NZ.
My family was one of the first inhabitants of Harvey Close, we often had a Sunday walk across the fields starting off from a short green entry beside some houses about three quarters of the way up the hill and walked across the fields to the water tower at Meriden, that was before the A45 became a dual carriageway.
Life in Allesley was pretty sedate - until November 5th.
I remember the youth and younger used to congregate at the cross roads opposite Mannings garage and have firework "battles" chucking bangers and jumping jacks around - who says those days of absolute stupidity weren`t the best? I cannot remember anybody getting hurt.

Allesley Home Guard defensive site
Out on a local Allesley walk I came across an overgrown concrete defensive structure near what was the Daimler shadow factory.
Does anyone have any more information about the Home Guard in Allesley village during WW2?

Between 1952 and 1954 my first school was Kineton Preparatory, run by Winifred Davey at 43 Browns Lane
I recall she had assistance from Mrs Heath (from Flynt Avenue) and Mrs Marsden - the latter's twins Richard and Rosamond were amongst the children, along with Peter Gibbons (from Meriden). Jacqueline Hailstone and Esther and Stephen Williams (he would be a classmate later at KHVIII) - I don't recall any other names
I don't suppose any other members have any memories of this little school

If you follow the path in Allesley away from the 'Elms' towards the village, up the old steps into the Graveyard, there is the remnants of a small sandstone wall on your immediate left. One of the central stone blocks bears a very faded inscription, most of which is indecipherable. Between two crosses you can just, with difficulty, make out the name 'Phillip Winser'. The next two (one?) lines may, with a bit of imagination, contain the words, 'May 16th'. The last line has the word, again between two crosses, possibly 'Flanders'. I assumed that it was the name of one of the fallen in WW1 but no such name appears on the Memorial in the Village Hall. I know the Church had a vicar with the same surname, but I think that was in more recent times??? The stone is WELL worn, and being in a sheltered position, would suggest an inscription which predates the Great War. Any help please?

There is a probate record on Ancestry. Philip Rupert Winser of Allesley Rectory died 27th May 1940 on war service.
Further reports in the newspaper archive, he was in the Royal Warwickshire Regiment and gazetted to the Territorial Army in June 1939.
The younger son of the Rector Flying Officer F C D Winser was killed in operations 18th July 1941
There father Rupert Bede Winser was from Shropshire and was living in Bermondsey in 1911 where he was a reverend. So it does not seem as if they were connected with Allesley that early.
Allesley found this link.

Thanks Annewiggy, that's the stone block I was talking about. Presumably he died in Flanders. The stone certainly looks much older than his death would suggest and it has deteriorated further since the photo was taken. I know we have some very soft sandstone around the village which was used (unadvisedly) for building, so I assume this was the type used. But why stick it in a nondescript wall, presumably fallen into disrepair since insertion? Why wasn't he included in the village memorial?

I passed through the churchyard purposely last week to have a closer look at the 'wall'. It has been built as a memorial, a self contained structure, albeit not very well. At some time, it has been partially repointed, again not very well. The stones are old and presumably reclaimed. It is a little sad that a memorial to someone who died in the war should be stuck on a path side where few people would notice, and those that do, summarily dismiss it, like I did.

Prof,
A quick search of the internet doesn't show a Browns Heath school in Coventry. There was however a Broadheath Girls School which I presume was on Broad Street, Edgwick at or near the current primary school (I don't have a log-in to access the Facebook page).
Peter.

Never seen this one before - Allesley Hall entrance (Drive) taken from what would be today's Allesley Old Road. Yes the Lodge is still there. Had not see the gated entrance before from ground level. Thanks to Rich Edward on one of the Coventry FB pages -
Edited by member, 11th Sep 2018 1:09 pm